Chief Petty Officer Annamae Barberra - So this is what it feels like
Wil Ukinix
((Chief of Mission’s Office, Copernicus Center))
Vataix: Are you prepared for the responsibility that comes with the path you're choosing?
Still in the “at attention” pose, and still with her hands behind her back, her eyes shifted to the Ambassador.
Barberra: Honestly Ambassador, I don’t think anyone can be perfectly prepared for what comes in the future. But I know what’s at stake, I’ve seen it and experienced it first hand. I have learned from other Starfleet crew, more experienced than me, and I will continue to learn. I am prepared to learn, to lead, and to make my mark.
Keehani: Why did you drop out of the Academy, really? Why was your attitude, when you first arrived here, frankly appalling? What changed, and how do we know you won’t fall back into those patterns again?
Annamae’s chest rose as she inhaled through her nose, and before answering dutifully, she turned her head to look at Keehani.
Barberra: To be blunt, my apathy was the reason, Envoy. I didn’t care, and didn’t appreciate what Amity Outpost was, what Starfleet was doing. I know my methods and my personality are unconventional. I’ll never change who I am, or what I find interesting.
She looked down at the ground.
Barberra: In this environment I have learned to be mindful of others. And recent events oO Frontier Day, Paxala Oo have made me realise that I have to chase what I want. It’s not going to come to me.
She noticed Keehani glancing over to Rivi.
(OOC: This telepathic conversation would not have been heard by Annamae)
Keehani: ~ Should we be cautious? Her mind and feelings are generally dark, which can make her hard to read, Ambassador. ~
Annamae stood at full attention again - eyes fixed on the wall behind Rivi - then uncharacteristically swallowed nervously.
Vataix: ~ Yes, but darkness always precedes the dawn, Little One. ~
Annamae could peripherally see that the Ambassador was looking directly at her.
Vataix: At ease, Annamae. I need to see *you* for me to judge and be able to decide whether to give what you're asking.
The crewman let out a thankful sigh of relief at Rivi’s request. She looked around the office-- all while the Envoy was studying her with curiosity-- and spotted one of the comfortable chairs. It was heavy, and it took a little start and a push to get it moving, but Annamae managed to get it to slide across the floor. She pressed her body weight against it, steering it to be 1.5 metres away from Rivi, adjacent to a flabbergasted Keehani.
Satisfied, Annamae sat on the chair, crossed her legs, and sat back, forearms resting on the seat’s arms like a queen who was one cat on her lap away from scheming the downfall of an empire.
oO Nope, that’s *too* at ease. Oo Instead, she quickly sat up, back straight, placing her palms together and holding them between her knees. Half at ease and half at attention.
And in a very comfy chair, according to her butt...
Barberra: ::Slightly panting:: Aye, ma’am, at ease, as request.
…while a slightly jaw-dropped Envoy watched on.
Vataix: Going from crewman to Chief Petty Officer means jumping ahead past several intermediary enlisted rates.
She nodded conceitedly.
Barberra: I understand, ma’am, and I have been passed over for promotions, rightly as I’ve had much to learn. But for me to take the next step career wise--
Keehani: --you need recognition.
Annamae quizzically turned her head to Keehani Ukinix. Was she actually helping her?
She turned her head back to look at Rivi when she continued.
Vataix: That kind of promotion is usually reserved for the demonstration of exceptional performance and conduct. Do you believe you, excuse the pun, "warrant" such recognition?
There was a momentary wicked smile at Rivi’s “pun” joke. She looked down, and filled her chest with air again.
Barberra: Ambassador, I helped the Indy escape that void, I found things in the Kathesis Pact agreement that others didn’t, on the Kitty Hawk I helped discover a space-borne goo related to Species 8472, and then on Frontier Day I helped uncover that there was a conspiracy before-- ::deep swallow::
((Flashback - Chief of Mission's Office, Amity Outpost, Stardate 239905.13))
Vataix: Well, three years is a long-time... I might not even be here by then!
Barberra: ::Slightly excited:: It could be a borg queen by then?
The Ambassador seemed slightly annoyed by that comment.
Kivik: ::Shocked:: You can’t be serious!
Barberra: ::Defensive tone:: What! An ocular implant and everyone else thinking for me would be the greatest thing ever.
((End Flashback))
Barberra: --beofre I was assimilated.
It turned out being a member of the Borg *wasn’t* the greatest thing ever. It was, on the whole, horrible (although secretly an ocular implant still would have been okay in her books). Her assimilation took her to a place she’d always imagined would be calmly dark, but instead showed her just *how* dark too dark was.
And it was in the same very office where she had let her fantasy be publicly known.
But being assimilated wasn’t fun at all. It broke her, forced her normal instinct to fight to switch instead to “flight” to Paxala.
She pursed her lips, and squeezed her knees tighter again her palms. Ther was a quick glance to Envoy Ukinix, before she looked down. There was a long silence for a moment, and she feared the the Betazoids were judging her psionically, maybe even communicating with each other, before the bubbly Ambassador punctured it with a joy that Annamae wasn’t capable of.
Vataix: I just needed to hear the truth from you, not from your words but your eyes.
Anname looked up to see Rivi with a big, toothy, perfect smile. It put her at *genuine* ease.
Barberra: Yes, ma’am.
The Ambassador pulled up a form on a PADD, and began dictating as she filled it out.
Vataix: "For the notable performance of her duties and conduct aboard Amity Outpost," Crewman Annamae Barberra, it is my please as your commanding officer to promote you to the rank of Chief Petty Officer, with all the rights, responsibilities, privileges there of." ::She stood up.:: Congratulations!
Annamae, not sure what to do, stood. Then sat. Then half stood. Then a smile formed on her face. Her eyes went wide, and a sense of joy washed over her. She’d done it. The unobtainable had been obtained. She slowly sat back in her seat, eyes still wide, shocked.
Barberra: ::slightly awed:: So this is what it feels like.
Keehani: Lean into it, Chief Barberra.
Annamae turned to look at Keehani, who was slightly smugly yet proudly leaning her arms on her crossed legs, as if giving her the only advice she ever needed.
Anname nodded slowly, before snapping her attention to Rivi who was standing next to her, offering her the PADD.
Vataix: This officially recognizes your credentials. You should have no issue aboard the station.
She looked at it for a few seconds, wondering if she was allowed to take it, before finally reaching out and accepting it from Rivi.
Barberra: Th-thank you, ma’am.
Keehani: Congratulations.
When Rivi touched the side of Annamae’s shoulder, she smiled again and nodded a few times in thanks. She then let out a sigh of relief, releasing tension she didn’t even realise she was holding onto.
She’d just climbed a mountain. A huge one. Why stop there?
Vataix: You've shared your dream, Annamae, and I've given you the key to open door and head down that path. It's your job now to complete the journey. Understood?
Barberra: Yes ma’am. ::Standing up:: I owe that much to myself, and to you. ::Looking at PADD:: I’ll never forget this.
Keehani: It is very bold of you to walk in here and demand a promotion.
Keehani stood up, and offered a hand.
Keehani: I’m impressed.
She turned to the Betazoid envoy. Her brown eyes met Keehani’s black ones momentarily, before she accepted her handshake, while looking up and away, embarrassed and not knowing where to look.
Barberra: Thank you, Envoy.
Vataix: Response
Barberra: Well, I don’t want to don’t want to hold you up anymore. ::Lifting PADD:: Thank you again for… for giving me something to do.
Which didn’t come out right, on purpose. What she really meant was giving her life direction. But she couldn’t say such serious words. She hoped that the Betazoids got it though, because, after all, they had super mind-freak mental powers and she was jealous.
Vataix: Response
Keehani clapsed her hands in front of herself, and stood next to the Ambassador, politely watching as Annamae left.
Barberra: Oh, and uh-- I’m probably going to have a party to celebrate. A huge one. At Bec’s, I mean, Commander Iko’s apartment. She doesn’t know that yet. And you’re invited. ::Quick glance to Keehani:: Both of you. I mean, it might get a little wild, but--
Keehani: ::Polite nod, slight smile:: I’ll be there.
Vataix: Response
Annamae lifted the PADD again, and then in a socially awkward moment…
Barberra: Okay, I’m gonna go.
… left Rivi’s office. Once outside, Annamae smiled just a little to herself. First visit? Bec Iko.
((Meanwhile, back in the office…)))
Keehani turned to the Ambassador, and exhaled a little.
Keehani: Madam Ambassador, when Crewman Barberra first walked in here, I honestly did not know what we were in for.
Vataix: Response
Keehani heaved to move the heavy chair that had been repositioned by Annamae back into place.
Keehani: I guess, The Four have a plan for all of us. ~~ Aligned stars, perhaps? ~~
((Flashback - Vataix Estate, Betazed – After Rivi's ceremony where she is officially named an ambassador - Stardate 239810.12))
Keehani: ~~I will come to the point, Ambassador. I have recently graduated Exopolitics at the University of Betazed, majoring in Diplomacy, with flying colors. Through family contacts I have learned of Amity Outpost, and ::handing
over PADD with CV:: I would like to join the Federation Diplomatic Corps.~~
The new Ambassador took one look at the PADD while furrowing her brow. Keehani sensed disbelief in Rivi, which was to be expected – and in fact, Rivi seemed more focused on the food on offer.
Vataix: ~~You're joking. This is some sort of laugh for you, isn't it? It's not very funny, I have to say. ~~ ::to the attendant:: Oh, thank you! Yes, I'll have two please.
The young exo-politics graduate wasn’t about to give up that easily.
Keehani: ~~You need me. I am perfectly qualified for this position, my studies were focused on diplomatic relations with jurisdictions beyond the Federation, I’m a fellow Betazoid, and I’m a hard worker. ::Confident smile:: The Four have aligned the stars.~~
Vataix: ~~You're also on a Federation watch list. You think because your cousin is the Starfleet attache, you're going to have some clout? Did he give you that impression?~~
Keehani slowly turned her head and looked at her Human/Betazoid hybrid second cousin Wil Ukinix in the distance. He was standing next to a short, red-haired fellow Starfleet officer, slowly sipping a beer and for some reason looking a little pale. He still
hadn’t seen Keehani yet.
The corner of the left side of her mouth turned up into a cheeky, proud smile.
Keehani: He doesn’t know.
Vataix: I'm not giving you special treatment.
Keehani: ::Looking back at Rivi:: Of course, Ambassador, I wouldn’t expect it.
((End Flashback))
A little smirk formed on her face, as she thought back to asking, almost demanding, Rivi give her a job three and a half years earlier.
Vataix: Response
Tags/End Scene?
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Chief Petty Officer Annamae Barberra
Science Specialist
Amity Outpost
&
Envoy Keehani Ukinix
Chief of Staff, Amity Outpost
Federation Diplomatic Corps, United Federation of Planets
V239511WU0